> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cockroachlabs.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Release Support Policy

export const InternalLink = ({version, path = "", children, ...props}) => {
  let detectedVersion = version || "stable";
  if (typeof window !== 'undefined' && !version) {
    const match = window.location.pathname.match(/\/docs\/([^/]+)/);
    if (match) {
      detectedVersion = match[1];
    }
  }
  const normalizedPath = path.startsWith("/") ? path.slice(1) : path;
  return <a href={`/docs/${detectedVersion}/${normalizedPath}`} {...props}>
      {children}
    </a>;
};

This page explains Cockroach Labs' policy for supporting <InternalLink path="index">production releases</InternalLink> of CockroachDB self-hosted. For clusters deployed in Cloud, refer to the <InternalLink version="cockroachcloud" path="upgrade-policy">CockroachDB Cloud Support and Upgrade Policy</InternalLink>.

There are two major release types: <InternalLink path="index#release-schedule">Regular and Innovation releases</InternalLink>. Each offers a unique set of Support Types, which define the durations for each [support phase](#support-phases).

## Support phases

* **Maintenance Support**: Begins for a CockroachDB major version upon its <InternalLink path="index#patch-releases">GA release</InternalLink>. During this phase:
  * Cockroach Labs will produce regular patch releases that include critical security fixes and resolutions to problems identified by users.
  * Cockroach Labs may backport non-breaking enhancements produced for newer major versions.
  * Cockroach Labs may direct customers to workarounds or other fixes applicable to a reported case.
  * Cockroach Labs may recommend that customers <InternalLink version="stable" path="upgrade-cockroach-version">upgrade</InternalLink> to a later version of the product to resolve or further troubleshoot an issue.
* **Assistance Support**: Immediately follows the Maintenance Support phase for Regular releases. Innovation releases do not have an Assistance Support phase. During this phase:
  * Feature enhancements will no longer be made available to the major release.
  * Cockroach Labs will continue to add critical security fixes to the major release in the form of patch releases.
  * Patch releases for the purpose of resolving bugs or other errors may no longer be made to the major release.
  * Cockroach Labs may direct customers to workarounds or other fixes applicable to the reported case.
  * Cockroach Labs may direct customers to <InternalLink version="stable" path="upgrade-cockroach-version">upgrade</InternalLink> to a later version of CockroachDB to resolve or further troubleshoot an issue.
* **Unsupported**: The day that a major version’s final support period ends is its unsupported date. After a version reaches end of life, Cockroach Labs provides no further support for the release.
  * A Regular release reaches unsupported at the Assistance Support phase's end date.
  * An Innovation release reaches unsupported at the Maintenance Support phase's end date.

## Support types

### Regular releases

Initially, a Regular release series has GA Support. After the series demonstrates a continuously high level of stability and performance, new patch releases are designated as LTS releases, which have an extended support window for each [support phase](#support-phases): Maintenance Support, Assistance Support, and Unsupported versions.

* **GA Support**: The default support type for production releases, starting with the initial production release of a major version, followed by each subsequent patch release before LTS releases begin for that major version.
  * **Maintenance support ends**:
    * **365 days** **after** the day of the **first production release** of the major version (i.e. the ‘GA release,’ ending in.0).
  * **Assistance support ends**:
    * **180 days after** the **Maintenance Support end date** of the release.
  * Major versions prior to v23.1 will not have LTS releases.
* **LTS (Long-Term Support)**: Conferred to an initial LTS maintenance release of a given major version and its subsequent maintenance releases. LTS provides extended support windows while also indicating our highest level of expected release stability and performance.
  * **Maintenance support ends**:
    * **365 days** **after** the day of the **first LTS release** of the major version.
  * **Assistance support ends**:
    * **365 days after** the **Maintenance Support end date** of the release.

### Innovation releases

Innovation releases do not have LTS releases.

* **Innovation Support**:
  * **Maintenance Support ends:**
    * **180 days after** the day of the **first production release** of the major version.

Innovation releases are not eligible for Assistance Support, and reach EOL at the end of Maintenance Support.

## Supported versions

| Major Version                                                           | Patch Versions   | Support Type | Initial Release | Maintenance Support ends | Assistance Support ends |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------ | --------------- | ------------------------ | ----------------------- |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v26.2">v26.2 \*</InternalLink>   | v26.2.0+         | GA           | 2026-04-27      | 2027-04-27               | 2027-10-27              |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v26.1">v26.1 \*\*</InternalLink> | v26.1.0+         | Innovation   | 2026-02-02      | 2026-08-02               | N/A                     |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v25.4">v25.4</InternalLink>      | 25.4.10+         | LTS          | 2026-05-03      | 2027-05-03               | 2028-05-03              |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v25.4">v25.4</InternalLink>      | v25.4.0 - 25.4.9 | GA           | 2025-11-03      | 2026-11-03               | 2027-05-03              |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v25.2">v25.2</InternalLink>      | 25.2.10+         | LTS          | 2025-12-17      | 2026-12-17               | 2027-12-17              |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v25.2">v25.2</InternalLink>      | v25.2.0 - 25.2.9 | GA           | 2025-05-09      | 2026-05-12               | 2026-11-12              |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v24.3">v24.3</InternalLink>      | 24.3.12+         | LTS          | 2025-05-05      | 2026-05-05               | 2027-05-05              |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v24.1">v24.1</InternalLink>      | 24.1.6+          | LTS          | 2024-10-21      | 2025-10-21               | 2026-10-21              |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v23.2">v23.2</InternalLink>      | 23.2.7+          | LTS          | 2024-07-08      | 2025-07-08               | 2026-07-08              |

\*: This major version will receive LTS patch releases, which will be listed on an additional row, upon their availability.
\*\*: This major version is an optional innovation release and will not receive LTS patch releases. Innovation releases are EOL when Maintenance Support ends.

## Unsupported versions

The following versions of CockroachDB are no longer supported.

Once a major version is older than four years from its GA release date, the links to its binaries and corresponding Docker images will be unpublished.

| Major Version                                                      | Patch Versions    | Support Type | Initial Release | Maintenance Support ended | Assistance Support ended |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------- | ------------ | --------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v25.3">v25.3</InternalLink> | v25.3.0+          | Innovation   | 2025-08-04      | 2026-02-04                | N/A                      |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v25.1">v25.1</InternalLink> | v25.1.0+          | Innovation   | 2025-02-18      | 2025-08-18                | N/A                      |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v24.3">v24.3</InternalLink> | v24.3.0 - 24.3.11 | GA           | 2024-11-18      | 2025-11-18                | 2026-05-18               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v24.2">v24.2</InternalLink> | v24.2.0+          | Innovation   | 2024-08-12      | 2025-02-12                | N/A                      |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v24.1">v24.1</InternalLink> | v24.1.0 - 24.1.5  | GA           | 2024-05-20      | 2025-05-20                | 2025-11-20               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v23.2">v23.2</InternalLink> | v23.2.0 - 23.2.6  | GA           | 2024-02-05      | 2025-02-05                | 2025-08-05               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v23.1">v23.1</InternalLink> | 23.1.12+          | LTS          | 2023-11-13      | 2024-11-13                | 2025-11-13               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v23.1">v23.1</InternalLink> | v23.1.0 - 23.1.11 | GA           | 2023-05-15      | 2024-05-15                | 2024-11-15               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v22.2">v22.2</InternalLink> | v22.2.0+          | GA           | 2022-12-05      | 2023-12-05                | 2024-06-05               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v22.1">v22.1</InternalLink> | v22.1.0+          | GA           | 2022-05-24      | 2023-05-24                | 2023-11-24               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v21.2">v21.2</InternalLink> | v21.2.0+          | GA           | 2021-11-16      | 2022-11-16                | 2023-05-16               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v21.1">v21.1</InternalLink> | v21.1.0+          | GA           | 2021-05-18      | 2022-05-18                | 2022-11-18               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v20.2">v20.2</InternalLink> | v20.2.0+          | GA           | 2020-11-10      | 2021-11-10                | 2022-05-10               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v20.1">v20.1</InternalLink> | v20.1.0+          | GA           | 2020-05-12      | 2021-05-12                | 2021-11-12               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v19.2">v19.2</InternalLink> | v19.2.0+          | GA           | 2019-11-12      | 2020-11-12                | 2021-05-12               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v19.1">v19.1</InternalLink> | v19.1.0+          | GA           | 2019-04-30      | 2020-04-30                | 2020-10-30               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v2.1">v2.1</InternalLink>   | v2.1.0+           | GA           | 2018-10-30      | 2019-10-30                | 2020-04-30               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v2.0">v2.0</InternalLink>   | v2.0.0+           | GA           | 2018-04-04      | 2019-04-04                | 2019-10-04               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v1.1">v1.1</InternalLink>   | v1.1.0+           | GA           | 2017-10-12      | 2018-10-12                | 2019-04-12               |
| <InternalLink version="releases" path="v1.0">v1.0</InternalLink>   | v1.0.0+           | GA           | 2017-05-10      | 2018-05-10                | 2018-11-10               |

\*: This EOL major version is an optional innovation release. Innovation releases do not receive LTS releases and are EOL when Maintenance Support ends.